How Can Storytelling Help Your Child Learn New Words and Express Their Ideas?

Knowing a word and using it to explain an idea are different skills. A child might recognise “rabbit” in a picture, then need more experience to describe what the rabbit is doing or why it is hiding.

Stories connect words with actions, feelings and events. Talking about those connections gives children opportunities to describe what they noticed, explain a choice and imagine what happens next.[1]

Help a new word become meaningful

Choose one useful word from a story and explain it in familiar language.

If the word is “enormous”, you might say, “That means very big. The enormous tree is much taller than the rabbit.”

Use it again later: “Could we build an enormous tower?”

Hearing and using words in different situations helps children explore their meaning.[2] Picture cards and everyday objects provide something concrete to discuss.

Build on what your child says

When your child offers a word or short sentence, respond with a little more information.

Child: “Rabbit running.”
Parent: “Yes, the rabbit is running towards the forest.”

This offers an example of a longer sentence while staying with your child’s idea. There is no need to ask them to repeat it.

If they prefer pointing or acting, describe what they show you and leave room for another response.

Ask questions that invite an explanation

After sharing a story, choose one question:

• “Why do you think the character did that?”

• “What could they try instead?”

• “How would you change the ending?”

Pause before asking another question. If answering seems difficult, offer a choice or share your own thought.

NAEYC recommends allowing children time to respond and adapting questions to their language abilities.[3] The aim is a conversation, rather than a memory test.

Make room for their version

Invite your child to retell a favourite moment using words, drawings or toys.

Help with a simple prompt: “First, the rabbit found the door. What happened next?”

Retelling gives children practice organising events so another person can follow them. Inventing a different ending creates another opportunity to explain their ideas.[1]

Connecting words and stories with Moreximi

The Moreximi Story Maker offers two starting points for these activities: reading cards to hear individual words, and combining three cards to create an audio story.

Parents can begin with a picture and its word, then use the story as a prompt for describing, explaining and retelling.

Its screen-free format is an option for families who prefer physical cards and audio. The language-learning opportunities come from exploring the words and responding to the child’s ideas.

References

1. Victorian Government. Storytelling — Early Childhood Literacy Teaching Toolkit.

2. Education Endowment Foundation. Developing vocabulary in early years education.

3. National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Asking Questions to Stretch Your Child’s Thinking.